Geordie Greep has paid tribute to his Black Midi bandmate Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, who died last week at the age of 26.
The band’s label Rough Trade shared a statement from his family confirming the guitarist’s death after a long period of issues with his mental health.
“It is with deep sadness that we as a family regret to inform you that Matthew Kwasniewski-Kelvin has died after a long battle with his mental health,” the statement read. “A talented musician and a kind, loving young man finally succumbed; despite all efforts. Matt was 26-years-old. He will always be loved.
“Please take a moment to check in with your loved ones so we can stop this happening to our young men.”
Tributes were paid from across the music world, with condolences shared by the likes of Sleaford Mods‘ Jason Williamson, DJ Mary Anne Hobbs, Fontaines D.C.‘s Connor Deegan III and Shame.
Now, Black Midi vocalist Greep has shared a lengthy tribute of his own after “a really tricky week”.
“It goes without saying it’s been a really tricky week. Really, really sad and shit. But I think that it’s important I say something here just to have some record of this time and these feelings,” Greep began.
“I want to say thank you, so, so, so much, to all of my friends, to everyone we have worked with in music, and to all of the fans for being so supportive and kind and thoughtful and gentle. Really thank you all so much, it means more than anything and has really helped. It has been so moving and powerful to see all the tributes and memories shared by all those who know him and all those he inspired. I want to extend all the warmest thoughts to all of Matt’s family and hope all of you are doing okay.”
Greep said that he had been trying to focus on “what a great person” Kwasniewski-Kelvin was, “what a force for positivity and goodwill, and how much better he made the lives of everyone who knew him”. He admitted that the pair hadn’t seen each other in years but he “thought about him very often and I always wished and hoped I would one day see him again”.
He also made reference to Kwasniewski-Kelvin’s mental health, admitting he wished he could “say how sorry I am for everything that happened, how sorry I am that he was unlucky enough to be battling such a cruel, unforgiving and persistent illness”.
Later, he wrote: “I think it’s my duty to not ever shy away from telling the world what a great person you were. To not be frightened or be awkward or discreet around the topic, that feeling doesn’t compare and isn’t at all important when I think of what you were dealing with for so long and what an amazing person you were.”
Kwasniewski-Kelvin co-founded the band in 2017 and they were quickly met with acclaim for their brand of experimental art rock.
They dropped their debut album ‘Schlagenheim’ in 2019, and the following year they released a jam and spoken word album entitled, ‘The Black Midi Anthology Vol. 1: Tales of Suspense and Revenge’.
2021 saw Kwasniewski-Kelvin confirm that he was taking some time off from the band to focus on his mental health, and he later got songwriting credits on their sophomore album, ‘Cavalcade’, which dropped later that year.
Black Midi’s last LP ‘Hellfire’, was released in July 2022, and the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2024, with both frontman Geordie Greep and bassist Cameron Picton confirming the news with fans before Greep embarked on a solo career.
